Southern California Wildfires Bring Out Massive Movement Of Red Cross Resources

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 24 Oct 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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With the wildfires still escalating, Red Cross supplies and volunteers are en route to Southern California by the thousands. More than 500 American Red Cross workers have been hard at work since Sunday morning and the Red Cross is expanding its services rapidly as the needs change and escalate.

Here's what the Red Cross has on the way:

- 25,000 cots
- 50,000 blankets
- 50,000 pre-packaged meals
- 25,000 comfort kits filled with toiletry items
- 75 mobile feeding trucks and 2 Southern Baptist Kitchens
- 1000 shelter workers
- 1000 workers to help with feeding, distribution of supplies, mental health and first aid support

More than 3000 people from Southern California spent last night at 11 Red Cross shelters in safe areas outside of their threatened neighborhoods. There, they found Red Cross workers providing a safe place to sleep, a hot meal and access to information. Red Cross mental health counselors are also on site to help clients manage the stress and fear that accompanies all disasters. The Red Cross continues to distribute water and food to firefighters and emergency workers in the affected areas as they work to battle the blazes and safeguard residents.

The Red Cross continues to urge those who have or will evacuate to register themselves on the Red Cross Safe and Well Website. On this site, people can leave a status message for their loved ones, letting them know their general location and well-being. More than 250 new registrations overnight illustrate how meaningful this act can be - access this site via http://www.redcross.org.

The Red Cross requests that those in the affected areas follow instructions from local authorities. You may also contact the Red Cross directly:

- People needing information on how to get help can call the American Red Cross at 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

- For questions about how you can support the American Red Cross call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go online to http://www.redcross.org.

Redcross.org offers more information on how you can Be Red Cross Ready and prepare your families in case disaster strikes. On the site, you will also find disaster-specific information for you and your family, such as tips on how to protect your family and home in the face of wildfires.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org